Sacred Silence: Denial And The Crisis In The Ch... -

: The text suggests that bishops and church authorities often surrendered their authority to Vatican congregations or were immobilized by the fear of being reported to Rome.

is a 2002 book by Donald Cozzens, PhD, an American Catholic priest and author who explores the institutional failures and culture of secrecy within the Catholic Church. The book critiques how "sacred silence"—traditionally a form of prayer and reverence—has been misused as a tool of denial to avoid addressing major crises. Core Themes of the Book Sacred silence: denial and the crisis in the ch...

The book is widely regarded by reviewers from platforms like Liturgical Press and Publishers Weekly as a courageous and prophetic work that seeks to heal the Church by confronting its "ugly, gaping wounds" with truth. : The text suggests that bishops and church

Rather than merely criticizing, Cozzens proposes a path forward based on . He believes that for the Church to regain its credibility and moral authority, it must: Core Themes of the Book The book is

: Transition from institutional secrecy to open, honest dialogue.

: Acknowledge the historical and personal forms of denial that have sustained the status quo.